Down Syndrome E-mail Lists, Newsgroups and Bulletin Boards

Compiled by Dr. Len Leshin

MAILING LISTS / NEWSGROUPS

Down-Syn Listserv / Newsgroup

The granddaddy of them all. Begun by Bill McGarry and is often referred to as "The List" or "The Listserv." You may subscribe to this e-mail list by sending e-mail to: listserv@listserv.nodak.edu and writing:
subscribe down-syn <your real name> in the body of the e-mail. The listserv program will automatically obtain your e-mail address from your message.

DS-Autism

This e-mail list is for families and others interested in supporting children and adults with the dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, autistic spectrum disorders, or Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD).Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/community/ds-autism.

Downs-Syn-UK List

Swedish Down Syndrome List

This list is mainly for communication in Swedish but others are also welcome to join with questions in English but must realise
that most communications will be held in Swedish. This can be acessed by sending an e-mail to majordomo@dataphone.se with no subject and the following text in the body : subscribe downsyn

German Down Syndrome List

This is a mailing list in German. To subscribe send e-mail to downsyn@zfn.uni-bremen.de and in the subject line put Down-Syndrom Briefkasten Start

Brazilian Down Syndrome List I

This is a mailing list in Portuguese. Messages in Spanish are also accepted. To subscribe send e-mail to Majordomo@listas.aleph.com.br with the following command in the body of your e-mail message: subscribe downet(Note: As of 2005, it was a SPAM-heavy list.)

Brazilian Down Syndrome List II

Canadian Down Syndrome List

This list is called down-syn-canada. The purpose of this list is enable people to exchange information about Down syndrome as it pertains to the Canadian context. Examples of the type of information that might be requested or discussed include: requests for, and listings of professionals or consultants in specific regions in Canada who deal with people with Down syndrome; educational, legal or public policy issues effecting people with Down syndrome that are specific to Canada (or regions therein); news about tests conducted in Canada that involve or target people with Down syndrome; and descriptions of how people with Down syndrome are depicted in the (Canadian) media. More information about down-syn-canada, including details on subscribing, can be found here.

Swiss Down Syndrome List

This is the "Schweizer Down Syndrom Mailingliste." To subscribe, please send e-mail to ds.mailliste@edsa.ch, in the subject line enter 'SUBSCRIBE'

Hungarian Down Syndrome List

For parents of children with DS in Hungary. To sign up, send e-mail to down-up@uptime.hu

Yahoo / MSN / AOL Groups and Clubs

These are "website communities" that make it easy to set up free e-mail lists or bulletin boards. As a result, these come and go frequently. Here are some of the more popular and long-lasting groups dealing with Down syndrome:

Downs-Heart
"A contact point for families who have a member with Down's Syndrome and associated congenital heart disease. Support and information for those whose child is facing heart surgery, who has had surgery, those whose condition is inoperable, and those families who are bereaved." Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Downs-Heart.

downsyndrome
"a place where parents can get together to discuss all the issues related to Down syndrome. Here you can meet with other parents and learn what other parents are doing for their children with Down syndrome." Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/downsyndrome.

Down Syndrome Assoc. Leadership Forum
"This listserv is for Board members and employees of Down syndrome associations. This listserv will be a forum to share experiences and ideas and to seek advice to better our community." Go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dsalf/.

Mosaic DS
"A support list for parents (and family members too) whose babies/children/adult children have been diagnosed with Mosaic Down Syndrome." Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MosaicDS.

Single DS parents
"If you are single and raising a child with Down Syndrome - this is the place! We have all the usual single parent stuff, plus the added weight of caring for our special children." Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SingleDSparents.

Multiples-DS
"For families that have multiple births, in which one or more of the children have Down syndrome. Also, we welcome families with more than one child with Down syndrome (adoptive and biological parents, too)." Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Multiples-DS.

Downsyndrome-Irish
"This is a group for any one with a child who has down syndrome but if you are Irish or have an Irish connection (or even if you don't) you are especially welcome." Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/downsyndromeirish

Other Notable Email Lists

These lists don't deal specifically with Down syndrome, but may be of interest to parents of children with Down
syndrome.

Our-Kids
The Our-Kids list consist of over 800 people representing children of varying diagnosis; everything from indefinite developmental delays and sensory integration problems, to cerebral palsy, to rare genetic disorders. For discussing accomplishments, defeats, medical and educational problems, and many other topics. Go to http://www.our-kids.org to subscribe.